ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608190046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Faced with a lack of money for certain educational programs and staff positions, the Roanoke County School Board has decided to turn to teachers, parents, businesses, churches and community organizations for help.
Thomas Leggette, the new chairman of the board, has proposed that the county offer financial bonuses to teachers and other school employees for ideas on ways to lower costs for support services and to free up money for classroom instruction.
Leggette said Thursday no decision has been made on the amount of incentives, but they would be a reward for suggestions that "would help provide us more dollars for things that help students."
The board also will invite Parent-Teacher Associations and other community groups to help fund crossing guards, teacher aides and part-time instructors in art, computers and foreign languages.
It will seek volunteer athletic trainers, nurses, drug abuse counselors, foreign language teachers and reading aides.
And the board has offered to work with businesses that are willing to finance training programs for skills they want in graduates, but which the county cannot afford to fund.
As part of the effort to ease the financial squeeze and improve efficiency, Leggette has also proposed the creation of a budget committee that will determine whether funds are being distributed fairly on a per pupil basis to all areas of the county, in response to complaints about favoritism in school spending.
During the recent school bond referendum, some residents complained about favoritism in school spending.
Leggette said the board is seeking the help of school employees and community groups because it doesn't have enough money to fund some programs that school officials and parents desire.
"We repeatedly have had to cut programs and positions we would like to have," he said.
The School Board had requested an increase of $8 million in funds for the school budget in the upcoming school year, but the Board of Supervisors provided less than half that amount.
"We want to send a clear signal that [the School Board] and school administration are willing to entertain innovative ideas for programs and positions from schools, parents, PTAs and other community groups," Leggette said.
"While our goal is to provide the children with what they deserve and need - a high-quality education - we have not been able to enhance programs and hire additional staff as much as we would like.
"Those expanded programs and positions could exist if parent and community involvement in public schools were akin to the involvement found among patrons of private schools.''
The key is for parents and others to invest their time, money and energy in upgrading the schools, he said.
Leggette said school officials are willing to incorporate volunteers into the schools in a wide range of positions - from foreign language instructors to traffic-safety guards.
"Retired persons and other community members who have available time constitute a great, virtually untapped labor source for our school system," he said.
School officials will urge civic organizations and church groups to organize volunteer programs at smaller elementary schools that have fewer parents and relatives to draw on as volunteers.
"Civic and church groups can easily organize programs through which they provide volunteers to assist in reading programs or study-skills programs for our elementary children," he said.
Leggette said the board has asked the school administration to establish a comprehensive parent and community involvement program. Marty Robison, assistant superintendent, will oversee the effort.
Leggette said school officials will work with PTAs or other groups that want to fund positions that the board can't afford.
"If they can get the volunteers, raise sufficient funds or obtain sufficient donations, we are willing to consider what they have in mind.''
If the PTA or other school groups do not want to become involved in the paperwork surrounding hiring someone, the school administration will consider providing the service, Leggette said.
School officials want to create an environment where parents can help get programs they desire for their children, but are not provided by the schools, he said.
"If your child wants a more expansive art instruction program, then you can do something about it. Organize a sufficient number of your fellow like-minded parents, find an appropriate volunteer, or raise sufficient funds, and the school administration and School Board will try to work with you to make it happen."
Donations to PTAs for such positions would be tax deductible because the state PTA has a tax-exempt status. Contributions to schools are also deductible.
Leggette said the school administration has been trying to reduce costs so more funds will be available for classroom programs. Some administrative jobs have been left vacant and other staff members are taking on additional job responsibilities at no additional pay.
Leggette said the newly created budget committee will take a hard look at school operations to see if there are additional ways to save money. It will try to ensure that the school budget is driven by educational priorities and is not merely the victim of outside forces, such as inadequate funding by the state or federal governments.
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Leggette. color.by CNB